Captive Beauties from the Steppes
To maximize Goryeo's territory as much as possible—but if we want a bit more diversification, since we're already producing corn, we could extract corn syrup from it. We could breed sugar cane in Jeju Island's warmest regions, but that's a later matter. Importing sugar from Taiwan every time works fine, but we need to prepare for contingencies. And with those natives around, we could pursue various methods.
But this Song merchant—this guy's been looking like he has something to say for a while now.
"You look like you've got a ton to say. What is it?"
I could totally sense exactly what he wanted to do.
"The foundations I brought from Song are quite substantial. If I help out, couldn't we get it done faster?"
"Is that possible?"
"We've got plenty of laborers, you see. Of course— I dragged them all straight from Song, so yeah, it's considerable."
Still, would an exploration team really cut it? Sure, their help would speed things up, but hopping from island to island to secure bases all the way to America is no small feat.
"From the way you're talking, you've seen the keel ships."
"Keel ships, huh? Of course I have."
What a cheeky little fellow. Was he slyly probing after spotting them on purpose? I had planned to show them eventually anyway. The Song merchant was Goryeo stock now, so it was time to put him to work. If we could link stepping stones from Hokkaido through the Kurils, Kamchatka, up the north to Alaska and North America, we'd need merchants for trade with the natives.
That's exactly why I'd kept them hidden until then.
"As expected of a merchant from a great power—sharp eyes indeed."
"Right? And you said they carry iron cannons too? That's a fortress on the sea, isn't it?"
This Song merchant knew about iron cannons as well. The sheer presence of cannons on those massive ships was overwhelming. Pirates wouldn't dare approach, and a dozen or so could sink just about any fleet. They were that enormous.
We just needed to coat them with pitch, add copper sheathing and copper nails to keep barnacles off.
"That's the idea. They'll even have expeditionary capabilities. So massive that no Eastern fleet would dare challenge them."
Song's massive armada wouldn't stand a chance against a few dozen keel ships. Especially if broadside barrages were in play—what more was there to say?
"Hmm, I'll throw my full support behind this."
"Well, if you have any conscience, you should help. Who made it so you're stuck with nothing but women? Tsk."
Thinking about it again, it was still infuriating. He couldn't even provide some men to help reclaim Yodong? Sure, we'd have enough once we tallied the Khitan men, but still.
"Even as a woman yourself, Lady Regent, your judgment is ruthlessly pragmatic."
It wasn't ruthlessness—I knew it firsthand as a woman. Lucky for me I was born into the Choi family; if I'd been one of those Volga Bulgarian women dragged here, thrown straight into corvée labor in this distant land, could I even work? Absolutely not. In my eyes, they were like prisoners hauled off by the Mongols.
If their looks held up, they'd just get lucky marriages to Goryeo nobles or Yodong bigwigs.
"If you're buying prisoners with good money, at least bring ones useful for labor. Women, though..."
Whatever else, they couldn't handle grueling work. I wasn't discriminating by gender per se—at least a sturdy man could tackle the corvée this era demands through sheer muscle. From our perspective, they had to volunteer as resources. Racial mixing was a concern, but not in huge numbers. I didn't hate mixed blood, but unnecessary blending felt off. I wasn't some rabid nationalist screaming "mixed blood is always bad."
"It'll work out somehow, right?"
"Still, pick out one or two beautiful girls for me."
"You said you weren't interested in men—turns out it's the other way around. I'd heard Goryeo women were open-minded, but this level..."
Since we'd bought these prisoners with our money, I could do as I pleased. Hm. A flicker of interest sparked for a moment—what nonsense was this? Sure, I wasn't entirely uninterested, but first things first: we were selecting women to show the emperor. Or the crown prince. At minimum, show the royals we were thinking of them.
"Like I said, we need to show some to our emperor too. You brought thousands, right?"
"Yes, Lady Regent."
"Have them stay around Yodong and marry off to the unmarried men."
And if luck was really on our side, these women would know Volga Bulgarian customs, clothing, culture. We could absorb what we needed from that. They'd be useful enough.
"How about you pick them yourself? As a man, my standards might not align. Plus, I haven't met His Majesty in person, so it wouldn't feel right."
"Ah, fair point."
Fine, whatever. That made sense. I'd select by my own standards, then.
Most of the Bulgarian women were camped in tents outside Yoyang Fortress. They must have been exhausted from the journey—few were up when I arrived—but what struck me was their appearance.
Whoa. Am I still a guy inside?
It felt like the last shred of my dormant masculine soul was stirring. Maybe this era's beauty filter had taken hold, but still. The Mongols probably cherry-picked the prettiest ones for Karakorum, then sold them here as armament payment. Their clothes were ragged, but the tunics and jewelry gave them an exotic, alien look compared to ours.
Yeah, I was the right one to pick. Plenty of onlookers, including me, gawked at these strange Bulgars, but hygiene was the urgent issue.
"Still, disease is a worry. You there—strip those women, wash them with soap, and dress them in clean clothes."
I had my maids clean and clothe them thoroughly. In the end, I selected the Bulgarian women and brought them to Gaegyeong. Partly to report to the emperor, partly to show we weren't skimping.
"Father, do you need any women by chance?"
"Cough cough. With all the concubines in the rear palace, would I wish for more?"
Hm, Father didn't look well. Whatever. Fair enough. It always felt weird when his rear palace women bowed to me. Ancient history from my past life now, but my previous father had complicated relations too. This one's age seemed to dull his interest in concubines. Maybe because he had me.
"True—with such a cute, clever daughter, no other woman catches your eye, right?"
I puffed up my shoulders smugly.
"Your ears must be clogged."
"Ahem. Actually, through the traders, I acquired quite a few women from lands beyond the distant west."
"How is that even possible?"
Father's eyes widened in surprise. Tell me about it—dealing with this sudden influx was a hassle.
"The Mongols launched a western campaign and wiped out a kingdom en route. The traders aimed for men originally."
"But the Mongols only handed over women."
Honestly, given Mongol habits, did they even spare men? Especially Volga Bulgaria—we'd humiliated them. Rage issues bend before the strong. Their first invasion failed, the second with auxiliaries and hundreds of thousands got slaughtered by pure Mongol elite of 50,000. They knew they couldn't touch us without us venturing onto the plains—grudging coexistence. But they crushed whom they could. Volga Bulgaria didn't survive that.
Male survivors likely became meat shields or auxiliaries. Pitiful.
"Want to see them? I brought dozens to Gaegyeong."
They were genuinely pretty. By this era's standards, who knows—but my lingering 21st-century Korean male sensibilities found these Volga Bulgarian women stunning. I picked ones who could pass on culture, customs, cuisine—or just looks—and stationed them at Yodong's naval base. Dozens came to Gaegyeong separately.
"Dozens?"
"We have to show the emperor some, right?"
"Hmm. Curious about their looks, at least."
"Even by this woman's standards, they're marriage material. You might like them."
I showed them via Kim Jun; Choi U's eyes lit up. Wait, at his age, interest in women again? No way he'd escape my influence. No desire for a prisoner stepmother—I'd charm Father into letting go.
"Unmatched beauties in all the world—nah, my daughter's still the best."
"Of course."
"The emperor will like them too. Truth be told, after surrendering to us, he needs some pleasures, right?"
With Father's approval, that settled it.
"Yep, naturally. But also, to surveil the royal house on the side. After some training, that is."
On the way here, I'd taught these dozens Hangul while ingraining gratitude. Not slaves—at least, they'd serve House Choi. Language barriers aside, they saw me as their Mongol savior, willing to work for me. A few would become the emperor's or crown prince's women, but also my property and closest spies on the palace. Perfect for contingencies. Wonjong especially—he toppled military rule once. We had to watch him.
With Father's okay, I entered the palace. For a common woman, becoming a court lady was tough—but as a Choe, I strode in without official robes or hat. Arrogant to the royals? Tough luck. If it irked them, win the people's hearts better than us. Gojong was used to it now; robed up, he'd find it odd. Deviating from norm draws eyes. I could wear robes, but a woman in full official garb looked off.
"I heard the Regent was entering the palace—what brings you?"
"Traders from Yodong acquired prisoners from the Mongols."
"Is that so? What's the issue?"
Polite smiles masking barbs. Typical Choe-Wang talk. But men would react to this.
"These prisoners are from Volga Bulgaria in the west—we routed their Mongol foes. During the Mongols' western push, they exacted brutal revenge: destroyed the nation, massacred or enslaved young men as arrow fodder, dragged women home. The traders bought these subjugated folk. Their exotic beauty struck even me, a woman, so I brought dozens of the finest. Thought Your Majesty might be interested."
He'd like them plenty. Modern tastes or not, male instincts endure. Gojong rolled his eyes, cautious.
"Hm. Let's see them."
I presented the waiting dozens—Volga Bulgarians with strong Slavic features. Not full elves, but half-elf level. Fantasy elves beat humans even mixed.
"Truly beautiful. How can such mysterious women exist?"
Spot on reaction. My selected women smiled seductively right on cue—irresistible to men. If I embodied Eastern allure, these evoked the West. Natural for the emperor to take interest in novelty.
"They say women from Mongol conquests are like this. I've briefed them on Goryeo; they feel indebted. If Your Majesty wishes, make them consorts."
As expected of a man—he was hooked.